Maradona brands Riquelme traitor
July 19th, 2012 - 9:36 pm ICT by IANSRio De Janeiro, July 19 (IANS) Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona has branded Juan Roman Riquelme a traitor for leaving Boca Juniors, local media reported.
Riquelme announced his decision to quit the club following the team’s 3-1 aggregate loss to Corinthians in the Copa Libertadores final earlier this month, reports Xinhua.
Maradona’s comments reignited a feud which began in 2009 when Riquelme publicly criticized the then Argentina coach for leaving him out of the national team.
Maradona responded by overlooking the former Barcelona and Villarreal star for the team’s 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa.
“It really surprised me. He can fight with me about Argentina’s national team but he can’t betray 75 percent of the country,” Maradona told Radio Metro, in reference to Boca’s massive fan base.
Maradona was last week sacked as coach of United Arab Emirates outfit Al Wasl, just 14 months into a two-year contract.
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- Boca Juniors hint at signing Maradona as coach - Jul 16, 2012
- Boca in bid to convince Riquelme to stay - Jul 06, 2012
- Riquelme in talks with Brazil's Flamengo - Jul 08, 2012
- Maradona calls Pele 'idiot' for comments on Messi - Jun 10, 2012
- Riquelme does not deserve to play at Flamengo: Coach - Jul 21, 2012
- Vasco da Gama defeat Lanus 2-1 in Copa Libertadores - May 03, 2012
- Vasco da Gama defeat Lanus 2-1 in Copa Libertadores - May 03, 2012
- Boca beat Universidad in Copa Libertadores semis - Jun 15, 2012
- Neymar dreaming of final against Boca - May 26, 2012
- Corinthians draw with Boca in Libertadores final - Jun 28, 2012
- Corinthians coach ecstatic reaching Libertadores final - Jun 26, 2012
- Roma secures Brazilian defender Castan - Jul 03, 2012
- Boca goalkeeper provokes Corinthians before Copa final - Jul 03, 2012
- Corinthians shock Santos in Libertadores semis - Jun 14, 2012
Tags: argentina, argentine soccer, boca juniors, coach, copa libertadores, corinthians, diego maradona, fan base, juan roman, local media, massive fan, radio metro, rio de janeiro, riquelme, soccer legend, south africa, traitor, united arab emirates, world cup campaign, xinhua